Anaja Jones, affectionately known as "Naja," came into this world on February 20, 1997. Born to parents Sabrena Jones and Delshon Jones, Anaya was raised in Miami, Florida, and educated through the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She attended Charles Drew Elementary and Charles Drew Middle School, and Miami Northwestern Senior High, where she participated in the JROTC program.

If you knew Anaja, you knew she loved to dance. Like any young adult, she enjoyed going out, being with friends, and was the life of the party. Anaya also enjoyed praise dancing, which she had done since she was a child. Anaja was a member of the United House of Prayer for All People. She loved God and gave her life to Him at a young age

Anaja joined the workforce not long after high school. Most recently, she worked as a cashier for Miami Subs until she became ill.

Today, as we remember Anaya, we remember her ability to cheer you up with a big hug and say, "My guy, we're not doing that". She was fun-loving and loved making people feel good, hanging out, and goofing off. There are so many great memories of our beloved Anaja. All of these memories will linger in the hearts of those who loved her.

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Martha Sanders

A mountain of a human being. A beacon of light. A trailblazer. A creator. A powerhouse of spirit. She wore the crown of matriarch and had the eyes of a visionary. Her life spelled, "I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T woman."  With every breath, she poured wisdom like a fountain and stood as a tough act no one could follow. Yet, she took great joy in the simple pleasures. On a nice summer day, she could be found fishing along the Tamiami Trail or baking the best sweet bread on the planet.

Martha's life journey began in Leary, Georgia, on August 9, 1940, as the first of eight children born to the union of Charlie and Christine Marshall. Deeply rooted in her Marshall family legacy, Martha towered above many, carrying the unmatched gift of leadership, responsibility, self-sufficiency, and entrepreneurship instilled by her father, Charlie. With a strong work ethic firmly woven into her identity, she did what had to be done, with no "shuckin' and jivin'," no wasted time, and no excuses. These values would define her character throughout her life.

Wise beyond her years, Martha learned early what it meant to stand tall and steady. She cared for her siblings with a mother's touch wrapped in a sister's love, guiding, protecting, and teaching them as she grew. She lived, worked, and played in the Bermuda "Moody" Fields, where laughter and labor met in the Georgia sun, shaping her backbone and her sense of purpose.

Martha was educated in the public schools of Calhoun County, Georgia, and attended H.T. Singleton High School in Morgan. It was there that literature and creative writing became her sanctuary, the place where her memory and dreams met. Her pen moved like prayer, etching literary creations and stories that held struggles, victories, and resolute faith. At 19 years old, Martha shook the Georgia red clay from her shoes and left Leary for Miami, carrying with her a deep knowing that survival demanded courage.

Within just a few years of her arrival in South Florida, through determination and perseverance, Martha purchased a family home on a corner lot in a newly integrated neighborhood. In 1968, just three years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act, this was more than just an ordinary house. It was a testament to courage, resilience, and triumph for a single mother with children, no matter the barriers of race or circumstance.
Martha's home at 2901 Northwest 160th Street was a gathering place of unbroken welcome, family connection, and refuge where anyone in need could find a place to lay their head. Spades, Bid Whist, music, dance, laughter, and the smell of good food flowed like a river through its rooms. Her home was a living citadel of good times, a space where love and celebration never ran out.

Spiritually, Martha knew the deep sweetness of God's redemption and cradled a personal love for Jesus Christ in her heart. As a child, she traced the footsteps of her ancestors and elders to the family home at Eureka Missionary Baptist Church, and there, in the quiet flow of the Ichawaynochaway ("Natcheeway") Creek, Rev. William Morris Harris baptized her - a moment that folded her soul into eternity. In South Florida, Martha found her spiritual home at Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church of Opa-Locka, first under the guidance of Rev. E. Talmadge. For over fifty years, she poured her heart into the life of the congregation, serving faithfully as Trustee, mentoring and leading as the committed Director of the Junior and Youth Choir, and lifting her voice as a devoted member of the choir. Professionally, Martha's ambition and curiosity could not be confined to a single occupation. With dignity, she moved through her work with reverent care and stewardship, turning every space she touched into a place of order, beauty, and comfort. Her dedication and reliability earned the trust and respect of those she served.

A born entrepreneur and a lifelong learner at heart, Martha never stopped stretching, never stopped believing in the power of growth. With determination, she completed the demanding coursework in Floral Design and Entrepreneurship at Miami Lakes Technical School, earning certifications that marked her excellence and mastery of her craft. But Martha did more than collect credentials; she turned her learning into living. With her newly acquired skills, she opened doors for herself and others, transforming her God-given talents into thriving business ventures. What she touched blossomed, not only in flowers, but in opportunity, beauty, and legacy.

At the center of Martha's life were her four "heartbeats":  Shelia Denise, Larry Ray, Velicia Michelle, and Selwyn. They were the rhythm of her days, the joy that carried her through the hardest of times, and the life that filled her home. Each child brought their own light, their own song, and Martha tuned in to support them, to nurture their dreams, and to guide their steps. She was present for their interests, cheering at milestones big and small, encouraging their talents, and reminding them that with God, they could stand strong in this world.
For Martha, motherhood was not a task but a calling, a sacred responsibility that she embraced with devotion. Her children were her testimony. She loved each of them uniquely and unconditionally. She not only bankrolled their dreams and entrepreneurial aspirations, she gave them the strength and ambition to grow.

Martha's journey was one of courage, faith, and boundless love. She lived fully, gave generously, and left behind a legacy that cannot be measured in years alone but in the lives she touched and the seeds she planted. We celebrate her Homegoing with grateful hearts, knowing she has exchanged the trials of this world for the crown of righteousness and the joy of everlasting peace in the presence of her Savior.
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